Seeking to rein in spending on rookie draft picks, NFL owners are actively pursuing the implementation of a rookie wage scale in a new collective bargaining agreement, according to USA Today.
Just last year, St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford's rookie deal netted him a record $50 million guaranteed.
The Carolina Panthers don't know what it will cost them to sign top overall pick Cam Newton.
"There are many things that we don't know, and that happens to be one of them," Panthers owner Jerry Richardson said. "But I wouldn't say that's the most unsettling. Just one of them."
Per the report, a propose rookie scale would keep non-quarterback first-round picks to four-year deals and other draft picks getting three-year deals.
Change is expected be on the horizon.
"It won't be the same," Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. "We all know that it's a common area of interest between us and the players. So it's reasonable to assume that there will be some changes there."
Landmark expensive draft busts like Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell ($32 million), Detroit Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers ($14.2 million) and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart ($12.9 million) have likely spurred the desire for a rookie wage scale.
That said, agent Tom Condon, who represents Bradford, made a strong point that it's up to the teams to draft wisely: "At the top of the draft, you're not supposed to miss on those picks."
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Aaron Wilson covers the Ravens for the Carroll County Times.
